What's the difference between a bitgag and a ballgag?

A ballgag fills the mouth, a bitgag holds it open. As a gag on its own a bitgag isn’t very effective; it imposes a posture more than anything. That’s why it belongs in ponyplay, where steering is the point.

Who can you turn to with questions about a bitgag?

Victor, a gigolo with twenty-five years of experience in BDSM and a background as a psychotherapist. Role-play and bondage are on his yes-list. You can ask him a question with no obligation through the contact form or start with a free chat .

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Glossary

Bitgag

The gag that imposes a posture more than it takes your speech away.

What is a bitgag?

Bitgag is a gag with a bar or bit that sits behind the teeth, with straps behind the head. It’s modeled on the bit of a horse’s bridle. The mouth stays half open and the jaw is held in position, but speech gets awkward rather than impossible.

Build	a soft rubber bar, held in place by straps
What it does	holds the jaw in position; coherent speech gets hard
Where it comes from	the horse world, and through that its use in ponyplay
Main caveat	not very effective as a gag on its own

How is a bitgag different from a ballgag?

A ballgag fills the mouth, a bitgag holds it open. That isn’t a difference of degree but a different purpose. Where the ball makes speech unintelligible and leads to drooling, the bar sits behind the teeth and mostly forces a posture.

That’s exactly what makes it fit where silence isn’t the point. In ponyplay the bitgag is part of the bridle and serves to steer, the way you would a horse.

How do you use a bitgag safely?

Using a bitgag safely comes down to one rule, the same as with any gag: someone stays with you the whole time. Even a gag that leaves the mouth open is still a gag. The same source warns that gags carry a high risk of suffocation if the nose gets blocked, that vomiting and choking block the airway further, and that someone wearing a gag must never be left alone.

Agree on a signal that works without your voice, because the words come out muddled and a safeword you have to say clearly can’t be trusted.

On top of that there’s a point specific to this model. A jaw held in position too long starts to hurt in the jaw joint. Keeping it short and taking it out in between helps more than most people expect. If I use a bitgag on a BDSM date, I keep it short and I stay with you.

Bit. The mouthpiece itself, apart from the strapwork, and where it comes from.
Ballgag. The gag that fills the mouth instead of holding it open.
Gag. The umbrella term the bitgag is one of the forms of.
Animal play and ponyplay are the other close neighbors. In ponyplay the bitgag is part of the bridle and serves to steer.

Frequently asked questions

What people still ask about the bitgag.

What is a bitgag?
A bitgag is a gag with a bar or bit behind the teeth, with straps behind the head. It’s modeled on the bit of a horse’s bridle and holds the mouth half open.
What's the difference between a bitgag and a ballgag?
A ballgag fills the mouth, a bitgag holds it open. As a gag on its own a bitgag isn’t very effective; it imposes a posture more than anything. That’s why it belongs in ponyplay, where steering is the point.
Who can you turn to with questions about a bitgag?
Victor, a gigolo with twenty-five years of experience in BDSM and a background as a psychotherapist. Role-play and bondage are on his yes-list. You can ask him a question with no obligation through the contact form or start with a free chat.